According to Kotaku, programmer Ólafur Waage revealed at the Ubuntu Summit how a team successfully ran Doom on the European Space Agency’s OPSAT satellite last year, marking the first time the classic game has operated in orbit. The project began when spacecraft operations engineer Georges Labrèche contacted Waage about running Doom on the ESA’s experimental satellite, which uses mostly off-the-shelf computer parts and is housed in a device not much larger than a suitcase. The team not only achieved software rendering of the game but also replaced Doom’s hellish skybox with real Earth images taken by the satellite itself, processing them through machine learning algorithms to adapt to Doom’s 256-color palette limit. This demonstration represents a new frontier for both space computing and the legendary game’s porting community, showing what’s possible when orbital hardware meets creative software engineering.
The Real Technical Breakthrough
While the “Doom on everything” meme generates headlines, the underlying achievement here reveals significant progress in space computing capabilities. The OPSAT satellite’s use of commercial off-the-shelf components represents a fundamental shift from traditional radiation-hardened space computing toward more accessible, cost-effective solutions. This approach dramatically lowers the barrier to entry for space missions while introducing new challenges around reliability and error correction. The team’s ability to modify Doom’s rendering pipeline to accept real satellite imagery demonstrates sophisticated software adaptation techniques that could be applied to more practical applications like real-time Earth observation processing or autonomous navigation systems.
The Unseen Security Risks
Running arbitrary code on orbital infrastructure raises serious cybersecurity questions that extend far beyond this demonstration. As commercial space infrastructure expands, the attack surface for potential malicious actors grows exponentially. The same techniques used to port Doom could potentially be exploited to run unauthorized software on critical satellite systems, from communication satellites to GPS networks. This demonstration inadvertently highlights the need for robust security protocols in an era where thousands of new satellites are being launched by commercial entities with varying levels of cybersecurity expertise.
The New Space Developer Ecosystem
This project signals the emergence of a new developer ecosystem for space applications. Traditionally, space software development has been the domain of specialized aerospace engineers working with proprietary systems. The ability to run modified versions of existing games on orbital hardware suggests we’re moving toward a more open development environment where a broader range of programmers can contribute to space technology. As Waage’s presentation demonstrates, the tools and techniques familiar to game developers and open-source contributors are becoming increasingly relevant to space missions, potentially accelerating innovation through cross-pollination of expertise.
The Commercial Space Computing Market
The successful use of consumer-grade hardware in orbit has profound implications for the commercial space industry. Companies developing small satellites can now leverage more affordable computing platforms, reducing development costs and enabling more frequent iterations. This democratization of space computing could lead to rapid innovation in Earth observation, communications, and scientific research. However, it also creates new markets for radiation-tolerant versions of commercial processors and specialized software that can handle the unique challenges of the space environment, from single-event upsets to thermal management in vacuum conditions.
The Coming Regulatory Response
As these capabilities become more widespread, regulatory bodies will face new challenges in governing what software can run on orbital assets. Currently, there are limited frameworks addressing the types of applications permitted on satellites, particularly for experimental platforms. This demonstration may prompt space agencies and commercial operators to develop more comprehensive software approval processes, balancing innovation against potential risks to space safety and security. The international nature of space operations adds complexity, as different countries may develop conflicting regulations governing software deployment in orbit.
